Knock Airport Overview

General information about Knock Airport

Ireland West Airport Knock is a major gateway for travel to north-west Ireland. In the past few years, the airport has seen rapid growth and is becoming an increasingly important pick-up and drop-off point for hire cars in Ireland.

Knock Airport opened in the 1980s as part of a project designed to bring new jobs to this traditionally impoverished part of Ireland. In those days, the only flights flew on a charter basis to Rome. Today, Knock Airport offers a much more thorough network of regularly scheduled flights.

Throughout the years, this airport has changed names several times. It opened as Horan International, later became Connacht Regional, then went on to be known as Knock International and finally Ireland West Airport Knock.

Today, Aer Lingus, Flybe, Lufthansa and Ryanair offer regularly scheduled service to several European destinations. A greater network of seasonal and charter services is also on offer. Flights connect to several cities in Ireland and the UK, as well as Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Paris, Tenerife, Barcelona, Faro, Milan and the Canaries.

Knock Airport is a regular recipient of awards for its role as a regional airport. The terminal’s efficiency and safety record can be partially attributed to the infusion of capital grants that Knock Airport has received from the government in recent years.

Travellers may be surprised that such a small regional airport offers so many international connections. The local (but world-famous) Knock Shrine is the culprit. The holy relic draws devotees from around the world and has previously been visited by Pope John Paul II and Mother Teresa.